The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Lake Winnebago Area MEG (Metropolitan Enforcement Group) Unit, announces the acquisition of a drug detection canine, made possible through a generous private donation from Marie Kuber of Fond du Lac. 

Addie, a German Shepherd, was purchased by the MEG Unit from the Badgerland German Shepherd Rescue. The addition of Addie to the MEG Unit will provide another valuable tool for the MEG Unit and other area departments in their drug investigations - helping Wisconsin law enforcement, and helping to make our citizens and communities safer. 

The Badgerland German Shepherd Rescue is an organization that provides foster homes for German Shepherds until they can be adopted by owners in permanent homes. These dogs ordinarily wind up at animal shelters or humane societies, where adoption is less certain. 

Addie, and her handler, a deputy from the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department who is assigned to the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, attended 12 weeks of training, sponsored by the Milwaukee Police Department, where she was trained in the detection of various types of illegal drugs. Addie was certified in narcotics detection through the North American Police Work Dog Association (N.A.P.W.D.A.).  

Addie's sole purpose for the Unit will be drug detection, as opposed to other departments that cross train their dogs for tasks such as handler protection, tracking, bomb detection, or other functions. 

This is the first time the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, which serves Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Calumet Counties, has enjoyed the benefits of a drug detection dog.  Prior to this program, the MEG Unit relied on other police departments and sheriff's departments that already had drug detection dogs. 

This program would not have been possible without cooperation from and contributions by several individuals and organizations. 

First and foremost, the program could never have been started without the donation from Marie Kuber, who, with her late husband, also donated land and buildings in Fond du Lac County to Marian College for their Law Enforcement Program.  This facility is known as the James L. Kuber Law Enforcement Training Center. 

The Milwaukee Police Department sponsored the training for the canine as well as the handler, without cost to the MEG Unit.  

This is an outstanding example of inter-agency cooperation at its finest.  The savings to the LWAM will allow the program to operate significantly longer than if the MEG Unit would have had to send Addie and her handler to a private training facility.

The Attorney General, the Lake Winnebago Area Meg Unit, and the law enforcement officers who serve there have expressed their gratitude to all who helped make this program a reality.